AHRQ Stats: Americans Treated for Joint Disorders

The number of Americans receiving treatment for osteoarthritis or other nontraumatic joint disorders decreased significantly from 52.6 million in 2016 to 43.6 million in 2020. (Source: AHRQ Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #548, Treated Prevalence of Commonly Reported Health Conditions, 2016 to 2020.)

Today's Headlines:

• New Interactive Data Map Shows Extent of Leading Mental Disorders in the United States
• Highlights From AHRQ’s Patient Safety Network
• Research Funding Opportunities From AHRQ
• AHRQ Webinars Coming in June
• AHRQ Seeking Primary Care Practices for Program To Improve Cancer Diagnosis
• Job Opportunities at AHRQ
• AHRQ in the Professional Literature.

New Interactive Data Map Shows Extent of Leading Mental Disorders in the United States

A new AHRQ data visualization, Geographic Variation in Inpatient Stays for Five Leading Mental Disorders, 2016-2018, shows rates of hospitalization per 100,000 population for the top five mental disorders in 2016-2018. The visualization is based on data from AHRQ's Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) and allows users to compare national, state, and substate areas for 38 states. The five leading mental disorders in the United States during 2016-2018 were depressive disorders, schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, bipolar and related disorders, suicidal ideation or attempt or intentional self-harm, and trauma- and stressor-related disorders. More information is available in HCUP Statistical Brief #288: Geographic Variation in Inpatient Stays for Five Leading Mental Disorders, 2016–2018.

Highlights From AHRQ’s Patient Safety Network

AHRQ’s Patient Safety Network (PSNet) highlights journal articles, books and tools related to patient safety. Articles featured this week include:

• Implementing an electronic root cause analysis reporting system to decrease hospital-acquired pressure injuries.
• The impact of a nursing-led intervention bundle with a bedside checklist to reduce mortality during the initial COVID-19 pandemic and implications for future emergencies.
• Attitudes of clinicians and patient safety culture before and after the ARRIVE trial.

Review additional new publications in PSNet’s current issue or access recent cases and commentaries in AHRQ’s WebM&M (Morbidity and Mortality Rounds on the Web).

Research Funding Opportunities From AHRQ

Health services researchers committed to improving the quality, safety and equity of healthcare can explore a variety of AHRQ funding opportunities to support this work. Notice of Funding Opportunities include Research Grants (R series), Special Emphasis Notices (SENs), Career Development Awards(K series) and Research Training and Fellowships(T & F series). More information on when to submit applications can be found here. Current opportunities include:

• Implementing and Evaluating New Models for Delivering Comprehensive, Coordinated, Person-Centered Care to People with Long COVID (U18)
• Special Emphasis Notice: AHRQ Announces Interest in Health Services Research to Advance Health and Healthcare Equity
• AHRQ Announces Interest in Research on Climate Change and Healthcare

AHRQ Webinars Coming in June

Learn about upcoming webinars, including how to register:

• June 14, noon to 2 p.m. ET: Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) Program Grand Rounds on Maternal Health. This webinar will highlight two EPC Program reports on maternal health while addressing evidence gaps and implications for clinical practice.
• June 15, 1:30 to 3 p.m. ET: Clinical Decision Support at the Point of Care. This webinar will highlight how modern, shareable and interoperable technologies have been used to implement patient-focused clinical decision support (CDS) tools.
• June 27, 2 to 3 p.m. ET: Preventing Workplace Violence (sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The webinar is part of an HHS series sponsored by the National Action Alliance To Advance Patient Safety, a public–private effort to support healthcare delivery systems’ move toward zero harm.

AHRQ Seeking Primary Care Practices for Program To Improve Cancer Diagnosis

Registration remains open for primary care practices to join a free 12-month patient safety program to support the implementation of evidence-based strategies to “close the loop” at critical points in the cancer diagnostic process via telemedicine. The program, which starts this fall, will emphasize strategies to enhance teamwork and communication and improve patient safety culture. Participants will receive technical assistance, coaching and tools to help implement sustainable improvements in their practices. Access more information about attending upcoming informational webinars and how to apply.

Job Opportunities at AHRQ

AHRQ is seeking an Administrative Officer/Division Director in the agency’s Office of Management Services. The selected applicant will serve as the Administrative Officer and expert advisor executing and managing the division's cross-cutting administrative programs and activities. Duties may include providing program direction, performing strategic planning, interpreting administrative regulations and developing agencywide policies and processes. The application deadline is June 16. Access more information about this vacancy.

AHRQ in the Professional Literature

The need to expand the infection prevention workforce in home infusion therapy. Oladapo-Shittu O, Hannum SM, Salinas AB, et al. Am J Infect Control. 2023 May;51(5):594-6. Epub 2023 Jan 12. Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Association of community walkability and glycemic control among pregnant individuals with pregestational diabetes mellitus. Field C, Lynch CD, Fareed N, et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM. 2023 May;5(5):100898. Epub 2023 Feb 12. Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Care quality for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the readmission penalty era. Rojas JC, Chokkara S, Zhu M, et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2023 Jan;207(1):29-37. Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Development of a natural language processing system for extracting rheumatoid arthritis outcomes from clinical notes using the National Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness Registry. Humbert-Droz M, Izadi Z, Schmajuk G, et al. Arthritis Care Res. 2023 Mar;75(3):608-15. Epub 2022 Oct 31. Access the abstract on PubMed®.

New psychotropic medication use among Medicare beneficiaries with dementia after hospital discharge. Growdon ME, Gan S, Yaffe K, et al. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2023 Apr;71(4):1134-44. Epub 2022 Dec 13. Access the abstract on PubMed®.

User-centered design of a clinical tool for shared decision-making about diet in primary care. Tierney WM, Henning JM, Altillo BS, et al. J Gen Intern Med. 2023 Feb;38(3):715-26. Epub 2022 Sep 20. Access the abstract on PubMed®.

The safety of performing surgery at ambulatory surgery centers versus hospital outpatient departments in older patients with or without multimorbidity. Silber JH, Rosenbaum PR, Reiter JG, et al. Med Care. 2023 May;61(5):328-37. Epub 2023 Mar 17. Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Trends in dispensed prescriptions for opioids, sedatives, benzodiazepines, gabapentin, and stimulants to children by general dentists, 2012-2019. Kim KC, Khouja T, Burgette JM, et al. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2023 Jun;32(6):625-34. Epub 2023 Jan 16. Access the abstract on PubMed®.